April 1st - April 25th, 2024
27 deg - 15 deg Aries
Mercury is the planet of communication, transportation and commerce. It moves retrograde three times a year, for roughly three weeks. It is said by astrologers that when a planet is perceived as moving retrograde, it behaves in the opposite manner as when it travels normally. So if when Mercury is direct it bridges parts and contracts, acts as a connector between people (together with Venus), when retrograde it tends to turn upside down our plans, purchases and deals.
Using an example astrologer Christopher Renstrom speaks of during Mercury Retrograde times, "shopkeepers turn into shoplifters". However, this is also an ideal time for catching up with old correspondence and things left unfinished. It is a good time for any situation where one is going back over what was said, thought or written or failed to communicate in the past; where one has to review contracts and correct any deviation from the prescribed path.
This particular time, Mercury will retrograde back into the sign of Aries. As the first sign of spring, Aries has the reputation of a direct, fast, impulsive, brave and competitive energy. Mercury in Aries likes to get to the point, quickly without any deflection. It is a quick-thinking, fast-talking and tactless Mercury. The decision making is almost instant. Aries is the opposite sign of Libra, so any planet in Aries will have a hard time negotiating or seeing another's point of view. Jumping to conclusions is normal for Mercury in Aries. Also, an individualistic, ME first or ME only type of communication or thinking, is very often found when Mercury is placed in Aries.
This being said, a Mercury Rx in this pioneering and reckless sign could advise on being careful and mindful of the speed and directness we use when we want to communicate, sign a contract or make a decision during the month of April. If you are in a hurry to create a new beginning, it is advisable to review some things of the past and not start an enterprise without taking into account the lessons of the past. If you want to sign a deal and you are afraid that if you do not move fast enough, you are going to lose the opportunity, you may find yourself losing more than winning in the end. Aries goes full force towards a goal, inspired by the competition with others, but now it may be wise to review both the goal and the manner of achieving it.
While moving back and forth, Mercury meets Chiron, the Wounded Healer. The first contact was on March 20th, at 18 deg Aries; the second one is on April 15th and third one with Mercury direct takes place on May 5th. Chiron represents our point of chronic pain, a vulnerability which never heals and it requires us to learn to live with it. These dates are relevant if you have planets around 20 deg Aries, Libra, Cancer or Capricorn because these contacts will create opportunities for awareness and healing, brought by Mercury, through significant communication or review of hurtful things that have been expressed in the past.
Aries is ME consciousness, an individualistic, centered on the Self, not Others type of frequency. The conversations and healing generated by both Mercury Rx and Chiron could indicate that we need to listen before we speak, express ourselves honestly but respectfully, assume accountability for what we say and be mindful of overidentification with our own opinion or ideas. We may learn through the month of April that we have to sacrifice something very meaningful to us, something that while lost or given up, may cause deep wounding for which there is no solution other than acceptance.
The most affected signs are Aries, Gemini and Virgo, which will do much introspection during this time, as something within is shifting. Cancer, Capricorn and Libra will be dealing with situations created by or involving other people that will require review and correction. We will all respond to this Mercury Rx phase based on our own placement of Mercury in the natal chart.
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